PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Nicole Friesen

First of all, I would like to welcome everyone back to Panthers! I hope you had a wonderful and safe summer.

Some things have changed around Panthers, and there is still more to come. A big thank you goes to Mulder Construction for the asphalted parking lot. Not only is it a great asset to Panthers, but will also help keep the Club entrance much cleaner.

We will also be expanding the entrance/vestibule, and changing the carpet in lobby area. Take a look at the plans posted on the Parent Information Board now located in the lobby to increase visibility and communication. Please reference the Calendar of Events posted on the P.I.B. (parent information board) for gym closure dates, fundraiser deadlines and other important information. Please feel free to contact Sandra our office administrator, who is a wealth of knowledge, for any additional information you may need.

Speaking of Sandra…Sandra Grevstad was the 2002 recipient of the Manitoba Gymnastics Association’s “Jack Mowat Award”. This prestigious award represents long-term commitment, dedication and volunteerism to the sport of gymnastics. Sandra has been with Panthers many years and has worn many hats. She is currently our office administrator, but in the past has coached, volunteered and served as President on the Manitoba Gymnastics Board of Directors for a number of years. During her term, she chaired the Pacific Alliance International Competition in 1998, the Pan Am Games in 1999, Elite Canada Competition in 2000, Western Canadian Championships in 2001, and Canadian National Championships in 2002. As President, Sandra was also given the responsibility of Chef de Mission for Team Manitoba and served this position well. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sandra on her dedication and hard work promoting the sport of Gymnastics.

In October we held our A.G.M. (annual general meeting) and would like to welcome Dan Edwards – Treasurer and Donna Dobson – Bingo Coordinator to our Board of Directors. Here is your Board of Directors for the 2002/2003 season:

Nicole Friesen – President Lucille Dufault – Communications/Public Relations

Sherry MacLeod – Vice President Wilf Regier – Facility Coordinator

Sandra Duma – Secretary Debbie Roy – Volunteer Coordinator

Dan Edwards – Treasurer Amber Griffiths – Fundraising Coordinator

DonnaDobson – Bingo Coordinator Leslie McAvoy – Past President

Coaches Corner

Competitive

Robert Persechino and Hélène Desmarais

Year in Review Panthers had a very good season. The club hosted five competitions and our gymnasts attended many others in and out of the province with very good results. Congratulations to Jholeen Ponce who won the Monica Goermann Award, making her the eighth Panther in a row to carry on the club tradition of excellence. Jholeen also won gold on Vault at the Nationals. What an accomplishment! Lynette and Bonnie Wittmeier were Panthers on the Canadian Olympic Team and the new Wittmeier Award was created in their honour. The first winner of this new prize is Panther Ashlee deLeeuw. Way to go Ashlee! Panthers continues to have the largest competitive team in Manitoba. The majority of the members of Team Manitoba for Westerns and Nationals came from Panthers and has for the past 11 years.

Of course none of these great accomplishments would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the coaches. Thank you all for helping make Panthers such a great club. Thanks also go to the gymnasts and their parents for their dedication to the sport. Our thanks also goes to the Board of Directors, especially the president, Nicole Friesen who accomplished many things last season, including the Frontier Toyota sponsorship. Our sponsors are important to the club, so we thank Marcel Thompson at Frontier Toyota for the renewed support of the club. Wendy’s Restaurants and the MacLeod family have supported the club for many years and we thank them for their long-term commitment. We also want to thank Vista Physiotherapy for their continued support of the club and athletes.

Official results can be found on our website at www.panthersgymnastics.ca. Thank you to Sandra for helping me pursue that project and to Kevin Stobbe for the work well done. We are looking for a volunteer to keep our website updated. Please contact the club if you have the expertise and would like to help out.

Competitive Calendar

Nov 16

Elite Canada Screening

Panthers

Nov 11,17,24

Judges Level 3 Technical

Proud Supporter

of

Panthers Gymnastics Club

“Come in and try one of our New Garden Sensation Salads.”

Panthers

Dec 4-8

Elite Canada

Hull, QC

Dec 14-15

Regional/Provincial Stream Competition

Brandon

Jan 2- 5

Level 2 Technical Course

Panthers

Jan 18-19

Provincial Stream

TBC

Feb 1-2

CWG Trials

Panthers

Feb 8-15

National Gymnastics Awareness Week

Canada

Feb 22-23

Compulsory Level 1 –2; Level 1 – 4 Optional

Aerials

Feb 22-23

Regional Stream Competition

Selkirk

Please keep the competitions being held at Panthers in mind. We will need volunteers to help with these events.

Did You Know…

… that the Monica Goermann Award is presented to the top Manitoba female gymnast every year at the Manitoba Open competition, and for the past 8 years in a row a Panther gymnasts has earned this award.

Reporters Needed

We are always looking for contributors to the newsletter. Please forward any ideas, jokes,

pictures to Lucille Dufault by phone at 257-2251 or by e-mail at arae5@shaw.ca.

Fundraising Report

Amber Griffiths

FUNDRAISING - WHY WE NEED TO DO IT?

As a parent owned & run non-profit organization, Panthers relies heavily on membership fees, donations, and fundraising to help keep this facility running smoothly. In the past year there has been a significant drop in fundraising, and we at Panthers realize that more and more organizations, schools, and extra curricular programs are asking for parents to fundraise, and only so much can be asked of you.

It’s parents like you who have helped Panthers offer quality programs to the community for over 35 years…Let’s do our part to help keep the tradition going!

Projected Fundraising Calendar

Activity	Timing	Earnings
Chocolates	August to October	40%
Entertainment Books	September to October	$6 per book
Show and Save	September to October	$5 per set
Regal	Ongoing (October to June)	20%
Mom’s Pantry	November to December	40%
Poinsettias and Wreaths	November to December	$8 to $9 per plant
Raffle	January to February	TBD
Gym-a-thon	March	10%
Fundraising with Stik-ees	March to April	30% to 50%
Pasta	Spring Break	25%
Rumors Comedy Club	Spring	TBD
Bedding Plants	May (delivered after May long weekend)	25%

Panther Trivia

1) What Panther gymnast earned a 4-year scholarship to Penn State University?

2) Where did Jholeen Ponce travel to in October 2002 to represent Canada at an International Competition?

3) Which Panther Gymnast has won the Monica Goermann Award 4 times in the past?

Winter Blues

Yes, it is that time of year again…snow, slush, mess and winter footwear in the cubby holes

lining the front entrance. Unfortunately our “boot fairy” is often unavailable and has no

“assistant elves” so we remind everyone to please place all outer footwear in a cubbyhole.

Don Finkbeiner

Suite 202 – 3111 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB, R3K 0W4

Tel: (204) 989-9630, Fax: (204) 989-9636, Toll Free: 1-866-890-3377

Email: info@heartlandtravel.ca, www.continentaltravel.ca/heartland

AFFILIATED WITH THE CONTINENTAL TRAVEL GROUP

Why I Love Gymnastics

I love gymnastics because I get to do things on the bars. I love to do flips, skin the cat and pullovers. I think Jody is so nice.

Taylor Toffan

I love gymnastics because it deeps me fit and I have lots of fun with my friends. My favorite part is hanging with my best friend Lindsay and my coach Des.

Hillary Cove

I love gymnastics because it keeps me healthy and strong and I love to tumble and work on all of my routines with my coach Des. That is why I love gymnastics.

No name given

My name’s Kelsey and I’m ten years old. I’ve been in gymnastics for 7 years since I was 3 when I started. I love gymnastics because it’s fun and I don’t have to go far to get exercises and be healthy.

Kelsey

I love gymnastics because it’s lots of fun. I made lots of new friends and it keeps me in good shape. I learn lots of new and exciting skills. I also get to do neat stuff on the tramp and other equipment. That’s why I love gymnastics.

Jessica West

My name is Kaitlyn Mikoliew. I am 7 years old. I’ve been in the Panther’s club for 2 months. This is why I like gymnastics: because its fun, I like to go on the rope and the bars, I really like the trampoline, I just like everything, I like being with the kids.

I love gymnastics because it is a sport that keeps me in shape and it is so FUN! I have been in gymnastics for 5 years and I want to keep going and hopefully go to the Olympics one day. I also love gymnastics because I am the only one in my school who can back flip and do a decent cartwheel. Panthers is the best!

Alea Ciecko

Kaitlyn Mikoliew

Gymnasts please keep these contributions coming. They are a very popular feature of

the newsletter. Please do include your name though so we know who you are.

Our sympathies go out to Jaclyn Celones, a coach here at Panthers. She recently lost her brother Ryan. Our thoughts are with you Jaclyn.

Panther Trivia Answers:

1) Katie McAvoy

2) Slovenia

3) Jholeen Ponce